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I LIBRARY OF C0NG115,SS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f 



PASTIME SKETCHES 



JOHN E. DIX 



3 




NEWARK, JS. J.: 
Edwin A. Dix, Printer, No. 444 High Street 




18'; 



fr 






Entkukd. acrordiim' to Act of Coni2:r('.ss, in the yoar ls77, by 

JOIIX E. DIX, 
In llie Ottice of tlie Librarian of Conari'ss, at Washington. 



TO MY 

BELOVED 



WIFE AND CHILDREN 

THESE i,i>;es aise 
AFFECTK )N ATKEY INSnUBED, 




Ietc%^. 



THE FINAL CONFLAGRATION 

"The sun sliall be tununl iutu darkness." 

"Thou spakest, and at Tliy f'^^'t 

The uuiverso gave way." — KiKK WiitTE. 

The mighty ani^d stood on sea and shore, 

And loud prochihnGd,— "there shall be Time no more;" 

Instant, Earth's keepers from their stations go, 

With glanee of thought, and leave the world below; 

While forces warring with electric power, 

The earth possessing, bring the final hour. 

Now glows the globe, involved in lurid light; 

The mountains, melting, witli the seas unite; 

Sea, mountain, vale and stream "dissolve" away;— 

All human works,— all life,— gone in a day! 

The wasting earth, swung from its central poise, 

Wid(i from its orbit rolls, in tlame and noise; 

While endless worlds, on their eternal round, 

Disorbed, collide and burn, thro' space profound. 



6 Pastime Sketches. 

Stupendous scene — the universe in flame! 

The central power attracting- all, the same, 

And all revolving in the maelstrom's might, 

Consuming, — sinking, all, — in endless night. 

No sun — no moon — Creation's dying moan 

Sinks in the gloom — and Silence reigns alone. 

But yet, shall shout celestial hail the rise 

Of "morning stars," — transcending earth and skies. 

October, 1874. 



Pastime SketcJies. 

NIAGARA. 

♦♦♦ ■ 

Thy scenes, Niagara! must alone be viewed; 
For pen or pencil would alike seem rude, 
That, in thy glorious presence, aims to paint 
*A scene, where all descriptive power is faint. 
The most that mortals may aspire to do. 
To keep impression of the noble view^ 
That holds the spirit with magnetic power 
Rapt in these moving scenes, from hour to hour 
Is but to sketch with UgJit, the perfect form; 
But not, with futile words, describe a storm,— 
Or the majestic march, along their way. 
Of these vast rapids in their whirling play, 
Or swiftest glide against opposing rocks. 
Shivered to foam, by their repelling shocks, 
And ever changing, as they forward go, 
With glee and music, to the deeps below-,— 
As 't were an ocean with resistless sweep, 
Tossing and rolling to the yawning deep : 
The vast stream, parried in its onward glide 
By islands sending it to either side. 
And all converging, as it nears the brow, 
To swifter motion for the plunge below,— 
Instinct with life, in its rejoicing flow: 



Pastime SkcfcJies. 

Then, pouring headlong with rebounding roar, 

That thrills the solid banks from shore to shore; 

With grace descending, and inspiring dread; 

Trampling the rocks below with Fury's tread; 

Tinged with prismatic hues, becoming well 

The grand dcsccnsion to the rocky hell; 

Whence tortured waves in smoky sprays ascend 

In snowy clouds, where rainbows circling bend. — 

A canopy of glory, — for a hero's end. 

From life, to death below— now, moves along 

A stunned and sluggish stream, — nor life, nor song- 

'Tween banks precipitous, of granite base. 

That trees and shrubs adorn with weird grace: 

The rock}^ channel wearing, on its way 

Down to the basin where the whirlpools play. 

Farewell, Kiagara!— to the soul, a friend; 

Thine impress ever with our visions blend: — 

To bring some sense to alien eye and soul 

Of these thy scenes, — a seraph's lyre must roll. 

To thee, alone, thine anthem must belong; 

Thyself, alone, thine own eternal song; 

Sounding (as harp inspired divinely sweeps,) 

With mountains, waters, vapors, and all deeps. 



Niagara Falls: October, 1874. 



Pastime Sketches. 



THE RECLUSE OF NIAGARA, 



I SING the Hermit — who, long years before, 
Forsaking man, and forced o'er eartli to fly, 

Dwelt here alone, within Niagara's roar, — 
With wounded spirit, resting here to die. 

Of noble mien, — avoiding human eye. 
He chose the island for his final home; 

Building his cottage by the waters nigh; 

With books and music cheer'd, — no more to i-oam. 

'T is said, — at twilight he was often known. 
With flute, and viol o'er his shoulder hung. 

To wander 'round from point to point, alone, 
The night beguiling, as he played or sung. 

'T was oft his mood, along a timber wide 
That overhung the rapids' whirling flow. 

To walk for liours, to shun the human tide, 
(^r dwell, absorbed, upon the scene below. 



\l) Pdxtiiiii SLctrJift*. 

Alouu' the island, rouiKi a rocky base 

("onccalcd by trci's and twisted roots around, 

Tlu' Hermit's Cascade and Ids Bathing- Place 
Is ever held in awe as sacred ground. 

Mysterious man!— 'mid scenes so wikl and grand, 
VVliy make such haven for thy storm-tost mind: 

Xor seek thy quiet in some far off land. 

By peaceful lake, with gentle scene relined? 

1 sought Niagara, — if that .s7/r might tell 
Wiiat cause or wo eclipsed this noble soul; 

She gently answered, while a tear there fell. 
And did with spirit voice the tale unroll. 

With me conununing, as he once appears, 

1 asked the reason whence this sorrow's mood 

With brow relaxeil, and oft with starting tears, 
lie told the tale, as he my features viewed. 

A city far a\vay — my native home. 

Famed for refinement and the cultured mind; 

Where Learning's temj)le reared the lofty dome. 
And sciencp, music, art, the soul refined. 



Past inn Sketchea. 11 

My morninu- years,— 'mid friciuls of ardent love, 
With lI()i)eV briiiiit vision beaniino; o'er my way, 

Hevealinii- i)at]is of ijlory, far al)ove, 
Where morninu" H.iiht wouUl turn to ulorious day. 

One sehoolmale friend I chose, ami uavc my lieart, 

AVlio seemed the i>romise of affection (h'ej); 
And thouu'ht our \ve(hled souls nouiiht e'er would i)art. 

Linked each to each, till the last mortal sleep. 

Our joyous youth now o'er, and learninii" won, 

AVith mutual wish to travel land and sea. 
To \'iew the lands that lie lieneath the sun. 

Or cities, towns, and shoi'cs, whei-e'er they l)e. 

We sailed o'er seas, and souiiht out foreii^-n shores, 

Hxplorini:- mountains, viewinii- peaceful vales. 
Piei'cinu- the forests, where the cascade roars. 

Enjoying lakes, and streams, and caves, and dells. 

Ascendinu- last to mountain summits hiirh. 

We found a beauteous vale, of wide extent, — 
Far, far above the plain, and near the sky. 

That, girdiuii- hills and si)ires. a ulory li'nt. 



12 PaMime Sketches. 

A .i!;l()\vini^ vale— with fall and cascade graced. 
Begemmed with flowers of ever}^ form and hue, 

With shady groves, and views to charm the taste. 
And stream, and modest lake, the valley through. 

O'er the sweet vale the heavens seemed to smile. 
Pure and ethereal was the air we drew ; 

'T was not of heaven, nor earth,— this valley isle,— 
An isle, celestisd sweet, between the two. 

The mountain race, that i)e<)i)led that fair vale. 
Tended their flocks, or tilled the tt'cming soil. 

Pursued the chamois, over hill and dale, 
Improving time with eveiy daily toil. 

A noble race— of high, aspiring mind- 
Heading the works of (4od, iind books of man; 

So near to heaven, the place their thoughts n-tined. 
And song and music lent th<' joy they can. 

Charmed with this seat of love, and worth. :ui(l joy 
We rested long among this peaceful race: 

Our days flew by, and nought could e'er alloy 
0\xv purest pleasure in this restful place. 



Pd^fiiiH Shrfrhrs. V^ 

Ono form there was. amonu' the dauuhters fair, 
Graeefnl as fawn— with eyes of heaven's li.f!:ht. 

With features fine, and wealth of i'ol<len hair,— 
Wliose joyous i)resenee would the soul deliirht : 

Of eultured mind,— possessin.u: p(^rfeet taste,— 
(lifted with musie's voiec, to pour the song,— 

With skill, the lute to toueh, the hours to haste. 
And roll the o(>ntle notes of love alon.o-. 

Her noble heart,— the sprin"' of wellino- love 
For all thin^-s true, and beautiful, and "-rand; 

Lovins: and Irue to friends and (Tod above, 

She was the u'eni, and flower, of that fair land. 

Sprunii- from a race that drew ethereal air, 

Servin.ii- the (Jod of mountain and of vale, 
In calm or t-mpest, liftinu' oft tlu' prayer 

That sin or dan,u-(M- ne'er miaht here assail. 

ITer soulful face— oh! h<.w may 1 describe— 
The tlirillinii- glance of those celestial eyes— 

The noble look-that uMiilt could ne'er abide. 
LiiilUinii- the heart with love ihal nevi-r dies. 



1 4 P,txfi„H' S/.rff/u's. 

'T was thus, when first we met in tlinl liiuli vale; 

Our eyes encount'riiii^ witli mai;-netie liold; 
Soul answered soul, and soon, the oft told tale. 

When from the heart, the tide of first -love rolled. 

From day to day, eomniuninn' long, we met. 
Together, viewed the varied prospects o'er, 

Together, in our sylvan arbor sate, 

And played, or sung, in moonlight's hallowed hour. 

Unworthy me, slie loved with woman's power, 
And I returned h(n- love with heart and soul; — 

When I recall that sweet and sacred hour. 
What sad emotions o'er my bosom roll! 

For now, the tale must change: my early friend, 
Perhaps too much forgot, beheld our love - 

Perchance might think this later love would rend 
Our early ties, preserved till now ab<)\ e 

All chanci' of change, in all our wandei-ings 'round. 

Alas! for him, thai he could not divine 
How lo\'e could e'er surpass AtTcdion's bound, — 

How love of man mav lind a holier shrine. 



PiiHtinic Shrfrlics. 15 

An altar wiiere both Love and Friendsliip meet 
To pay their vows and bring their off'rino-s there : 

Be that as 'twere — with plausive, deep deceit, 
By jealous fiend inspired, he o-ained her ear 

Witli wildest tietion of my former life, 
That proved me false — devoid of honor's love — 

Which swept her bosom with such tempest strife, 
She falls in death — her si)irit soars above. 

Struck with remorse, that thus his villain tale 

Upon her heart with fatal force did fall. 
With fair pretence, he early fled the vale. 

But left no sign that he had ruined all. 

ller death, declared <)ccun*ing from the heait. — 
But 't was not long before my clierished friend 

Restless, and wounded by Remorse's dart. 
The hai'rowing cuksc, in penitence did send, 

With ])lea foi- i)ardon — whieh 1 fi-eely gave. — 

'T was said, lie smih-d when on his dying bed 
To have my ])ardoii — o'er the act would nive; — 

The stoi-m within soon placed him with the dead. 



16 P<tf<fiinc t<l,-('f('Jirx. 

My talc is told; — dooeived in trusted fiitMid. 

And gone the ])ower to love. — Avhat wonder now. 
Till the last houi- of dreary life? shall end, 

1 thus retire in Sorrow's form to bow. 

AVlien to this temple I my steps did bend, 

(With kindly friends' eonsent, no more to roam,) 

These charmino: scenes with all my thouu-hts did blend, 
Thon! to my spirit an embodied form. 

— >[y heart was moved, and tears of sorrow tlowed; — 
I5nt he has found, 1 trust, immortal day: 

Trusting- his strength as on tlie waves he rode, 
The sweeping waters bore him far away. 

Tims did Xiag'ra then, with Fancy's lay, 
Foundc'd in tnuli, reveal the wo and cause; 

Present some color, with her rainbow ray. 
To light the darkness o'ci- the sjiirit's laws. 

ilow, then, can man the wounded spirit l)ear. 
When Hope departs, and all around is night! 

Unless to Truth Revealed,— oh! tell us when.' 
Shall the immortal sjiirit look for light! 

Unless believed, the kindly words addrest, 
"^V>///(" tiiitt) ]fi\ li 11(1 I irlll (jin- ii<}ii /-est." 



P((Hti)iie S!l-etrltes. 17 

OX HM Bi;scfi m i,oxa S'j^svcs. 

— ♦♦♦ 

The azure hue of Ocean's heaving plane, 
The ships and steamers sailing o'er the main, 
The swelling, rolling waves that crash to shore 
And beat the sand with loud, harmonious roar, 
The strolling pilgrims on the wave- worn beach, 
Whose feet the stealing waters oft will reach, 
The bathers, graceful in their charming dresses. 
The timid, screaming in the waves' caresses, 
The pebbly beach, — the straggling sea-weed rows, — 
The bleaching sands, — the drift, that Ocean throws. 
The sailing tish-hawk, poising o'er his prey, 
Then swooping down to beai- the tish away; — 
Or wheeling sea-gulls, or the porpoise' roll; 
Or Avinging sandbirds, like a joyous soul; — 
The sound of music swelling from above; 
The youth and maiden gaily making love, — 
The various drives along the sprinkled way, 
The lawns alive with parties at croquet. 
The playful children, wishing day would go, 
To trip, at eve, "on light fantastic toe"; 



IS Pant I me Sh'teJiea. 



To sum up all — but lo! the dining hour; 
Another line is past a mortal's power. 

September. 1874. 



P,i.^f/iH/' S/,rtr/n 



19 



sv 5^vEViV(t ov YftK m&c^. 



Oiifo more by the brcakini;- wave. 

Onoe more by the sea -washed shore 
Where the baffled billows rave. 

And sink in their an.o-ry roar. 

Where the breath of oeean Hows 
Revivinu' the lan,o-uid frame, — 

Konsino; the soul from repose, 
And kindlinL"- a mental tiame. 

To sins: of the miii-hty sea, 
As a world of movinir life, — 

Strono- and majestie to be, 

'I'hro' the eonrse of human strife. 

Of the silent bendino- stars 

Adorninu' the brow of night, 
And, slidinii" the crystal bars, 
Unloeking Heaven to siuht. 



20 Pafttinte Sketched. 

O: this the insi)iriim- power 
The spirit of nuin to charm, 

In the starliii:ht's holy hour, 
And the ocean musics bahn. 

August 22, 1876. 



t 
•♦♦ 

NioHT (Vor the lonely beach,— nor noise, nor sound, nor word, 

8ave the ocean's voice in the tumbling billows heard, 

Where his coolino- breath is felt, his solemn anthem sung; 

With the clear round moon from the starry heavens hung. 

Spreading her silvery sheen over the ocean's breast, 

That seemeth like one aweary, taking his rest. 

Lulled by the drowsy waves' monotonous song 

Beating in musical cadence the shores along;— 

A mingled scene, of quiet, and sound, and motion. 

That moves the spirit of man by the lonely ocean 

To spurn the fragile bonds around the prisoned soul, 

To be on lightning wing where waves EtcriKtl roll; 

To list the surges beating o'er the Eternal shore. 

And view an ocean rolling when time shall be no more: 

Or, o'er Eternal mountains, to view celestial vales, 

Wafted on tireless wing, buoyed by intoning gales. 

Thrilled with celestial music, on the tide of harmony borne. 

That lyre, and harp, and anthem, are pcmring around the Throne;— 

Where the holy radiance forever debars the night 

From the l)oundless world of glory,— the ".4// /// idr\ the Light. 



Soptpiiilicr, 1S7 



Pastime Skefchea. 



MO'l^KiXa Sy YSp< s^iJS. 



O'er the broad ocean the daylight is breaking-, 
The Star of the Morning has faded away, 

Aglow are the skies, as the sun is awaking 
And sending his couriers to herald the day. 

Caught on the sapphire breast of the ocean. 
As it quietly heaves in this opening hour, 

Glowing and waving with tremulous motion. 
The tints intermingle with magical power. 

Sprung from the dark profound of his prison, 
Spurning the bonds of the demon of night; 

Proud and rejoicing and charming the vision, 
Lo! in his glory, the monarch of light. 

Flooded with sunlight, the ocean rejoices; 

The breezes spring up to welcome the morn; 
The wave and the billoAv respond with glad voices. 

And rolling in proudly— crash— and are gone. 



September 4, 187C. 



Pasfinic Sketches. 23 



Mooxi<maT ©Y t9it "^s© m& wsvs^^". 



In moonlight, alone, by the rippling waves, 
When ocean at rest, the shore gently laves, 
When friends are afar, and over the soul 
Joys of the past, thro' the memory roll; 
When Friendship's bright star illumined our way, 
And Love's cheering smiles created our day; 
A shadow of sadness steals o'er the heart, 
To feel that like waves, our loved may depart, 
And leave us, at last, on the bleak shore alone; 
With the lone spirit's sigh, bereft and forlorn. 

But a truce to all sadness— has Hope taken wing? 
Tho' such lot may impend.shall the spirit not sing ) 
Rejoicing in blessings left to us still;— 
For those that are crow —resigned to his will. 
The full glowing moon that sails up the sky. 
Symbols a world where our loved shall not die; 
Its softened, and holy, and glorious light, 
A purer, and holier,— or^/- this night. 



September 4, 1870. 



24. Piisfitiifi SlrMtca. 



Oi\ tljc Metropolitan Hotel, Lor|i> i)raricl|. 

Burnt iluwn in the Spring; of 1870.— •'InconiTiary Fire." 

I loitp:r and Hn,f>-f'r about the spot 
Where stood the hotel— Imt, alas! it is not: — 
Some dastard hand has demonly i2,iven 
With torch of hell,— its ashes to heaven. 



l\(sitnic Shriclu's 



I\ S ^'{0%\\ AT ^tjk 



RoAKS the wild i^ale that rolls with tempest sweep 
The mountnin waves along the living deep, 
That rear their erested tops to distance high, 
As if, with fury wild, to storm the sky. 
The tumid billows, forced with whirlwind might. 
Concuss,— explode,— and, shattered, roll in light. 
Forked lightnings dart,— and crashing thunders roll 
From ebon clouds that brood from pole to pole. 
God help the sailor o'er the cataract way. 
With helm and sail, his laboring bark to stay; 
(While "to and fro'' the staggering sadors reel, 
As rolls the boundinii and descending keel;) 
To liold the station firm, 'twixt wind and wave, 
With skill and nerve,— with call on God to save; 
Whose "hand" and "fist" the winds and waters keep, 
AVhose voice commands, and winds and ocean sleep. 



25 



September 10, 187tJ. 



26 Pastime SketcheH, 



Long Branch, Night of September 16, 1876. 

Lines of wave beyond wave, rolling in ire, 
Lashed by the gale, — with the ocean on fire, 
From glow of the phosphor o'er the rough waves, 
Moving in flame, where the crushed water raves. 
The spectacle grand — and weirdly sublime — 
Svmbol of scenes at the ending of Time. 



Pastime Sketclwii. 



srYiMV. 



The first kiss of Autumn flushes the trees, 
That fling his gay banners out to the breeze; 
Emerald mingled with crimson and gold, 
Flashing all hues as they deeper unfold, 
Illuming the mountains, lighting the dales, 
Coloring the crags and kindling the vales; 
The landscape of glory enchaining the eye:— 
But the hectic, alas! tells Nature must die-, 
Her yearly work done, the harvests all full. 
The horse and the ox the groaning wains pull; 
The farmer with joy sees his granaries fill, 
Gathering the fruitage from valley and hill; 
And ne'er from his toil a whit doth abate, 
To husband the yield, both early and late, 
Till all is well stored, and the harvest song given. 
And the thanks of the farmer proffered to Heaven: 
When Nature exhausted sinks down to its rest, 
The russet leaves strewing the earth's faded breast; 
Till future Spring open, and Nature arise, 
Arraved in fre^h verdure to capture the eyes. 



28 P,isf,'>/tr Slrtr/icx. 

And oh: tluK llu- life of mortal iiii.u;lit he 
Like hand of kind Nature, oi)en and free — 
Having- "freely received, freely lo give," 
The wretclied to succor, avo to relieve; 
The almoner true of the bounty of lieaven, 
(That falls on the heart, diffusing like leaven;) 
To raise the deprest, the hopeless to cheer. 
With sympathy noble drying the tear. 
Reclaiming from sin and lifting above 
To the bounteous Lord of kindness and love. 
The actor thus noble lendeth the Lord — 
As all kindly deeds will find their reward,— 
Conscience a]iproving, and joy in the soul: 
And when the dark clouds of death o'er us roll, 
Like Autumn illumed ere it passes away. 
The radiant soul is convoked to the Day. 

Cherry ValltN . X. V.— 1870. 



PilstiiiK- S/.rfr/it'.^. 



29 



VISION OF NIAGARA 



At,ong by Niag-ara's ni2:o:od shore, 
My llic waters rolling with ceaseh^ss roar, 
Uy the sweeping- rapids in mighty flow 
Pouring and crashing in thnnder l)elow, 
And tossing the mist -clouds to lofty height. 
O'erarched witii the Iris' radiant light;— 
So wizard a scene entrances the soul, 
Where these wild waters eternally roll, 
That, throned o'er the scene, Niagara's form, 
A spirit of light, seems watching the storm 
Of waters rolling in grandeur around. 
Filling the air with harmonious sound. 
—Rail to thee— Vision of beauty divine! 
A mortal, adoring, hows at thy shrine; 
V^ouchsafe, thou fairest and noblest of earth, 
The tale of our race, from Earth's second birth, 
— Lo! her fair form,— as the parting clouds roll 
Hark! 't is her spirit-voice whispers the soul. 
"AFortal! conjured by thy pray'r I appear. 
And cheerfullv give (though told with a tear,) 



3d Pasfi'mc Slrichrii. 

Tlio story of man so sad, since the flood 
Swept from the earth his original blood. 
When the vast waters that circled the globe, 
Had lifted from earth the watery robe 
And returned to their source, by power divine, 
And around, a new creation did shine, 
Prompted by Heaven, the lone people few 
Of earth that was past, — and fountain of neu\— 
Went forth on the mount to view the new world 
Glowino; and fresh where the late w\aters whirled; 
The mountains and valleys weaving in green, 
With flowers of all hues mingled between, 
The still quiet lake, and swift flowing stream, 
In distance afar, the wide ocean's gleam. 
No beauteous bird thrilled the air with its song, 
Ko prowling wild beast roamed the shores along, 
No herds grazed the hills, no flocks o'er the vales. 
No ship oVr the ocean spread forth her sails. 
No vestige of man appeared on the earth, 
lint voiceless and silent, seemed all a dearth. 
Save tlie Irendding fcAV who stood on that hill, 
Earth and the air all oppressively still; 
WluMi a voice- of soft music fell from the sky, — 
'Peace and comfort, my chosen, — Lo! it is l! — 



Thy God that rodcemed Ihce, saved from the wave; 
Bow down and adore the 'Miglity to save'. 
Lo! spanninii' the hills, my glorious bow! 
Kegard tliDu the eov'nant made with thee now. 
Xo more shall o'er earth the waters be hurled, 
No more the deep ocean bury the world; 
And when the storm-cloud is passing on high, 
For thee and thy race, this pledge in the sky. 
Go on thy mission — repeople the eartli — 
].et beast, bird, and insect, now issue forth 
From thy storm-beaten ark, to tiy and to roam 
AVherever their nature shall tind them a home.' 
Ended, with man this communion divine; 
Ceased then the light of Flis presence to shine. 
''J'he patriai'ch few bowed low in the dust. 
And offered to heaven, prayei's of the just; 
()])eyed the coiumand and let all go free. 
Of heast, l)ii-(l, and insect, saved from llie sea. 
.Mused then the chief, as he stood witii bowed head. 
And sad as lie left his floating l)ridge, said: — 
'FarcAvell! sea-dwelling of myriad life, 
Shield from the storm and the deep waters' strife. 
Transplanting the life -germs of former e:u-th, 
Restoring all forms, renewing bv bii'th, 



Till oVr this fair carlli the eagle shall soar, 
Birds sing from the trees, the roused lion roar, 
The flocks and the herds enliven the shore; 
While imperial man, eartli's living soul, 
Hesiimes his dominion, lord over all. 
Adieu! then again, sole link and the last 
Conjoining this earth with that which is past. 
Now, ye orphans of earth, no longer sta}'; — 
To the valleys below wend we our way.' 
With lingering step, they turn to dopart. 
While thoughts of the past rush over the heart, 
Coiupelling the tear — (the symbol of wo 
To mingle with joy, where'er they may go.) 
— Xow, after the lapse of centuries long, 
Man had increased, and anew become strong, — 
AVlien tilled was the earth, and cities appeared. 
And commerce and trade their power had reared. 
Nations had risen, and monarchs did reign; — 
Envy, ambition, and rivalry vain 
Soon plunged the nations in horrible war; 
With scenes of destruction, near and afar: 
Trembled the earth with the warriors' tread; 
And the engines of war, in conflict dread. 



Pastime Sketches. 3J3 

Laid low the dense ranks, on sea and on shore; 
Countless the loss in the dnnid battle's roar. 
Not nations alone involved in the fray; 
'Man on the earth had corrupted his way.' 
Few were there able, or few were there found, 
To stem the current of evil around; 
Powerless to change the nature of man, 
Or e'en their own actions closely to scan; 
Where social joy was losf in passion's sway, 
And all tlie earth wore Evil's dark array. 
Not seraph's lofty harp nor voice might sing 
The mighty sorrow of Creation's King, 
That man forgot His name, ignored His laws, 

Forsook His altars, for destroying wars. 

His sorrow turned to wrath, Jehovah came. 

From farthest heaven's height,— His presence, flame; 

In lightning flash and thunder's awful roar. 

In glory, rested upon Earth's high shore. 

From man concealed,— while INIercy touched His breast, 

He stayed His lightnings, and His thunders rest. 

Then spake to man the voice from out the flame:— 

'Humble thyself, O man!— I AM, My name. 

"Put ofl:' thy shoes," for all the place around, 

Thy sovereign's presence has made holy ground; 



34 Pdstiiiu iS/iCfr/u'S. 

In rev'ivnce ])o\v, and lowly veil thy face; 
1 am thy (^od, but still the God of j^-raee. 
I'pon this adamant my laws I Avrite, — 
To guide thy race, that all may walk upright: 
Kead and obe}^ — thyself and all thy race; 
Lest from the smiting sword I hide my face, 
Let vengeance burn, and fearful avo surprise, 
And thy despairing call in vain arise. 
Let then the victim on ]\Iine altars burn, 
Till the Atoner come, and joy return.' 
Ceased then the voice — the rolling clouds of light 
Retired from earth, beyond my feeble sight; 
Heaven's light illumining the whole earth o'er, 
Ilis thunder shaking every distant shore. 
Opprest with aw^e. Earth's trembling chief arose; 
Supernal flame o'er all his features glows; 
To all below^ the mount, did then recite 
The burning w^ords that God himself did write. 
On past and future scenes inspired to look, 
Himself and future seers, — Behold the Book! — 
That tells, in future time this twain-born earth 
Redeemed from sin, shall gain a holy birth; 
When this, with all the orbs that roll thro' space, 
Destroyed, — to worlds celestial shall yield place. 



/\>.s(iiiic SLxtche. 



85 



Till then. \\\\\\q those ftonial wnters sound, 
To all who view, the emhlem here be found 
Of the dire sweep of vengeance that may roll 
To pour destruction on the guilty soul — 
Of Mercy's promise, in my hand of light, 
To stav His anger, — if thou seef<t aright.''' 



September, 187C. 



